Michael Wittry

Michael Wittry joined the Department of Finance at Fisher in 2019 after earning his Ph.D. in Finance and Business Economics at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also holds master’s degrees in financial mathematics and statistics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. 

Professor Wittry's research spans a variety of areas within empirical corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on capital structure and corporate governance. His latest work aims to better understand how frictions between shareholders and bondholders impact firm decision making and real outcomes. He has published scholarly articles in top finance journals such as Journal of Finance and Review of Financial Studies. 

Professor Wittry's academic contributions have been recognized on multiple occasions. Most recently, his paper on "Debt Overhang" won the best paper award in the Ph.D. session at the Colorado Finance Summit, and in 2016, he was awarded the Foster School of Business Dean's Achievement Award for research excellence.

During his time at the University of Washington, Professor Wittry was also recognized for his role in teaching corporate finance to MBA students. In 2018, he was a finalist for the Excellence in Teaching award, the highest form of recognition for graduate instructors at the University of Washington. Additionally, he was awarded the Foster School of Business Ph.D. Program Teaching Award. Professor Wittry teaches corporate finance to undergraduate students at Fisher.

Corporate Takeover Defenses (with Jonathan Karpoff), in Handbook of Corporate Finance, David J. Denis, ed., forthcoming

(Debt) Overhang: Evidence from Resource Extraction, Review of Financial Studies, 34(4), 1699-1746, April 2021

Crisis Poison Pills (with Ofer Eldar), Review of Corporate Finance Studies, 10(1), 204-251, March 2021.

Institutional and Legal Context in Natural Experiments: The Case of State Antitakeover Laws (with Jonathan Karpoff), Journal of Finance, 73(2), 657-714, April 2018.